Letter from NGOs and UK Chamber of Shipping asking Cameron to ensure aviation and shipping are included in the UK’s carbon accounts
The key green NGOs in the UK, and the UK Chamber of Shipping have written to David Cameron, asking that the UK includes international aviation and shipping (IAS) in our carbon accounts, bringing the sector into line with our world-leading legal framework for tackling climate change. The Government is required to take a decision on whether IAS are included in our carbon budgets by the end of this year. The NGOs, (the AEF, WWF, Greenpeace, CBT, FoE, CPRE ) and the UK Chamber of Shipping are asking that David Cameron should accept the recent advice of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) by formally making provision for including emissions from these sectors in the carbon budgets. The integrity of the Climate Change Act 2008 requires that all sectors of the economy must contribute towards a cut in emissions of at least 80% by 2050 and aviation and shipping must be part of this long term emissions target. Recently aviation representatives said that they were comfortable with the CCC’s recommendations in relation to international aviation emissions.
The letter is below:
The Rt Hon David Cameron MP
Prime Minister
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
11 December 2012
.
Dear Prime Minister
Noting that the Government must take a decision by the end of this year regarding inclusion
of emissions from international aviation and shipping and the UK’s carbon budget, we call
on you to accept the recent advice of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) by formally
making provision for including emissions from these sectors in the carbon budgets.
It has always been central to the integrity of the Climate Change Act 2008 that all sectors of
the economy must contribute towards a cut in emissions of at least 80% by 2050 and thus
that aviation and shipping must be part of this long term emissions target. It is therefore an
anomaly that emissions from these sectors are not yet formally counted in the carbon
budgets, which, by setting limits on the total emissions allowed from the UK in successive
year periods, help to create certainty for investors. The CCC has stated that there is now no
justification for excluding aviation or shipping in this way.
At the recent Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, representatives from both
international aviation and shipping industries said they agreed with the findings of the CCC
and saw no reason to continue to exclude these sectors from UK carbon budgets. The
shipping industry considered that a failure to include shipping emissions would detract from substantial progress on reducing emissions by the International Maritime Organisation. Aviation representatives said that they were comfortable with the CCC’s recommendations in relation to international aviation emissions.
With the UN now having committed to announcing a global policy framework for aviation
carbon emissions in 2013, and efficiency measures for shipping having already been agreed, the time is right for the UK to commit to including aviation and shipping in our carbon accounts, bringing the sector into line with our world-leading legal framework for tackling climate change.
Yours sincerely,
.
Tim Johnson, Director, Aviation Environment Federation
Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport
Neil Sinden, Director of Policy & Campaigns, Campaign to Protect Rural England
Andy Atkins, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth (EWNI)
John Sauven, Executive Director, Greenpeace UK
Mark Brownrigg OBE, Director General, UK Chamber of Shipping
David Nussbaum, CEO, WWF-UK
.
cc: Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister
Rt Hon George Osborne MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, Transport Secretary
Rt Hon Ed Davey MP, Energy and Climate Change Secretary
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, Cabinet Office Minister